The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, from the Health Ministry’s side I wish to add: Whether a graduate obtains a medical degree from a state university, from Kotelawala Defence University, or from abroad and then passes the Act 16 exam to practice in Sri Lanka, the Government bears responsibility for them. That is why, in addition to the degree, the internship is vital. It is not enough to grant a degree and send them out; the house officer training is essential. Only after such training can we assure the quality of a practicing doctor.

¶ 02 You are aware of the current shortage of specialists. There is a shortage of certified consultants, and internships are conducted under them. Providing internship placements to all—graduates from state universities, from KDU, and those from abroad—is currently constrained. Therefore, after discussing with all parties concerned, we have temporarily come to this decision. We must urgently resolve the internship placement issues because regardless of whether they join the state service, the private sector, or go abroad, we are accountable for their degree and internship. Once a robust, sustainable solution is found, we can proceed to formalize the decision.